Loveline 9:8
Hello Grizzlies, this week's loveline comes from Psuedo Nym our foreign exchange student from Upper Whatchamakalistan. Dear Ladies, he writes, Homecoming approaches as does the day that I return to my home on the Makalistan plateau. My heart would beat all the easier if you would make sure that I don't go dateless to the Homecoming Dance. I will be in the library after school today until 2:45 with two lenses in my glasses. Come decorate my table with a carnation and make my stay in this country worthwhile.
A Teacher’s Right To Free Speech
By Kellianne Smith, Staff Writer
Earlier this month, a teacher from Ogden High School, Mr. Johnson, was asked to cover his tattoos while at work. He claimed that this infringed upon his right to express himself. However, the school board stated that his tattoos were distracting and unprofessional.
Mr. Johnson’s tattoos are not objectionable. He does not have any satanic symbols imbedded in his skin, but he has many Star Wars tattoos that represent his son. Should he be allowed to show these in a classroom?
As high school students, we are asked to abide by a dress code. The Logan High School dress code says nothing about students needing to hide visible tattoos. Should tattoos be allowed to be seen on a teacher? Or does the school board have the right to discriminate against ink?
In the professional world, no matter where you work, you will be asked to dress appropriately. If you work at Subway, for example, you are only allowed to have one piercing in each ear. If you have others, you will be asked to remove them while at work, but a tattoo cannot be removed quite so easily. If you have visible tattoos, most employers will ask you to cover them while at your place of work, and they have the right to do this. But is it ethical?
While some may say that a teacher’s tattoos can distract a student from learning at the highest capacity, tattoos are a part of our society that has become a common sight. Students may be distracted for a day or so, but once they adjust, they will not be spending all of their time staring at the ink someone has placed on their own body. For the most part, students are responsible enough to pay attention to the whiteboard or the lecture being taught, not the teacher's appearance.
Teachers should maintain a professional appearance, but they should also be allowed to express themselves. Teachers are placed into our classrooms not only to teach, but to inspire students. If we do not allow our teachers to express themselves, then they will only inspire their students to become closed shells with their ties and dresses. If a teacher is allowed to express him or herself, they can better relate to their students.
Healthy self expression is a necessity for the “real world” we will grow to become a part of. Whether you choose to express yourself through the clothes you wear, the way you style your hair, or even the tattoos you have chosen to wear, you need to express yourself in a way that is right for you.
To Mr. Johnson: wear your tattoos loud and proud. You're teaching your students that they do not have to accept things as they are. You may lose your job, but you'll remain a hero to all of those students who have had the opportunity to sit in your classroom and learn more than English from you.
Global Warming: An Event with Disasterous Consequences
By Tina Kasin, Staff Writer
On the Millennium Challenges list, climate change is decidedly the most important issue. Should the forecasts by the UN's Climate Panel come true, every single one of these other ”challenges” will be enhanced by the effects of global warming, and in turn, climate change. In other words, every problem will worsen, which demonstrates that carbon emissions are a key factor to people's health, happiness and well-being, especially in the already less developed countries. The worst predictions raise the question of human survival, which reitrate that climate change is the number one threat and issue at hand. To demonstrate the enhancing effects climate change has on the other issues on the list, I've chosen to highlight the consequences in regards to fresh water shortages.
The human body is entirely dependent on a continuous access to fresh water. Water flushes out toxins and leftover parts of the food we ingest. It also regulates body temperature. It fullfills two of the needs most important for survival after breathing and blood circulation, and that is why we cannot survive for more than approximately three days without water; a week maximum. The fact that a large percentage of the world's 6.8 billion inhabitants do not have regular access to clean water is highly concerning. The effects of an alleged global warming and climate change would therefore be critical, as several of the world's fresh water reservoirs are highly dependent on a certain air temperature, as they often stem from melting glaciers. The largest, and for many people, the only source of water in the world's most populous region, Central-Asia, is water from the glaciers of the Himalayas. Climate change brought on by global warming would render billions without clean water, which in turn would cause mass-migration; causing the rest to feel the consequences too. As you might have guessed, it is critical for the word to deal with these problems, of which we are already beginning to see effects.
A shift in air-temperature, some argue, could make it rain more, not less, and therefore the connection between global warming and water shortage is redundant. The first part of this argument is indeed accurate, but the second is flawed. While it would rain more in the already wet regions, leaving them even wetter and more hazardous, the dry regions would become drier because of evaporation of the soil-moisture. This would be a catastrophe of epic proportions, as billions would suffer from widespread thirst, whereas people in other parts of the world would struggle to keep their heads above water.
Water shortage will be an increasing problem, regardless of actions taken to prevent it, if we do not make big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. The West has for a long time, actually since the industrial revolution in Great Britain during the mid-seventeen hundreds, been given a pass for their actions, and in some cases, crimes against the Earth and Mother Nature. It looks like we will once again escape from the natural consequences, at least for now.
Demanding big cuts from developing nations because they are using outdated and polluting equipment, while the U.S. and other wealthy countries would not have to reduce the standard of living for their inhabitants, is both ridiculous and morally despicable. We have to make cuts, even if it might affect our grotesquely high standard of living. If we are to demand anything from developing nations, we should pick up the check. They deserve it. We've been living life's party now for 250 years, and it's our turn to give something back.
A Different Approach to Dances
By Trevor Truex, Staff Writer
It’s 7 o’clock. You’ve just reached your date’s house, and all of the sudden you’re at the bottom of some stairs or in a family room with every member of her family around you. Naturally, you’re thinking… Why, why is she not ready? Five minutes later she makes her way to where you are, looking amazingly beautiful.
This tends to be the usual scene every time one of our fancy school dances comes around. Guys, have you ever considered how long those elaborate hair-do’s take to style? I did, and in my curiosity, I decided I wanted to see exactly how long and what else goes into getting ready for school dances on the girls’ part.
I first needed to ask girls some important questions. Why do you go through so much? Is putting on all that make-up on or doing your hair annoying? Then, I went to all my female sources and inquired of them. “It takes around an hour and a half to two hours to do my hair and make-up,” junior Kirsten Johnson casually expressed.
Taking a long time is nothing new, but that’s not always their problem. “Sometimes half way through, your hair just doesn’t want to stay curled and it will fall down,” said Hayley Kanski, a senior talking about what bothered her about going to dances.
When explaining why a lot of girls go through getting make-up and hair ready dance, after dance Lia Bogoev stated, “Dances are a really big deal in Logan.”
“We do it to impress the guys,” Kirsten Johnson said in closing.
In my search for more answers I, unfalteringly, decided to be a human guinea pig I was basically going to dress in drag. I made a call to Jackie Sellers, a senior at LHS, and asked if she wouldn’t mind putting make-up on me and doing my hair. I want the works when I go into anything this drastic.
So, on Saturday the 17th, we got together. From personal experience, mascara is a pain in the butt, and curling your hair can be terribly painful as well. It took around an hour and twenty minutes and every minute tested my patience. The most annoying thing for me, though, would have to be the eye liner that girls put on. Poking my eye out was not fun at all.
Just remember guys, when you are in the most uncomfortable position sitting with her father remember your date is getting burned by a curling iron, poking her eyes out with eye liner, and putting annoying make-up on to impress you, the guy. Thus, they are just as uncomfortable as you are.
Questions on Gender Roles
By Ashley Leavitt
Picture yourself walking down an isle at a toy store with you little brother or nephew. On the right there are Barbie dolls, princess dresses, talking babies and pink frilly tutus. On the left are remote control cars, Legos, G.I. Joes and plastic shot guns.
As you turn down the isle, your nephew/brother’s eyes light up and he immediately lets go of your hand and runs to the first baby doll he sees. He instantly picks up the baby doll, cradles it in his arms and rocks it. This action catches you off guard and leaves you with the dilemma of what to do. Do you let him play with the doll or try to redirect him towards the nice G.I. Joes or the “manly” guns?
Now picture yourself walking down the same isle with your little sister or niece, and she automatically runs to the plastic guns and starts pulling the trigger, making a popping noise each time she does. Would you react the same way to her as you did the boy?
Why is it that there are specific toys, certain clothes, and even colors for different genders? If a boy walks up to a toy that is specifically for girls and starts to play with it, people might judge him and assume that when he grows up he will be “gay” or a feminist, but when a girl walks up to toys for boys, then people assume that she will be tuff, or she simply just likes to play with G.I. Joes and Barbies.
There shouldn’t be toys, colors, or certain clothes that must fit just to one gender. Boys should be able to feel comfortable wearing a pink shirt, just like a girl would if she was wearing a tie. Dressing or playing with certain things does not set in stone how a child will turn out as an adult. The boy that has pink as his favorite color and plays with dolls might grow up to be a successful business man that is married with a family.
Everyone has favorites, whether it’s colors, toys, friends, or pets. The gender barrier should be lifted. How people dress, how they act, and what their color preference is can say things about them, but what people may perceive of this isn’t always right. So girls, when faced with the difficult decision, wear the tie, and boys wear that hot pink shirt.
Rachel The Bully
By AJ Anderson, Staff Writer
There is a problematic student that is comparable to a wrecking ball of havoc in this school! Her name is Rachel Wootton, and she may or may not belong in an insane asylum. Though she doesn’t seem dangerous, Wootton is a dangerous girl indeed.
This Wootton child is a walking, talking and bullying menace! An estimated 63 freshman and 42 sophomores have felt threatened and bullied by her actions. And what are the affects of her destructive attitude? Frequent tardies, physical and mental abuse, and an overall drop in self-confidence have been direct results of her bullying.
It is hard to track down students who have been petrified by her bullying, but eventually some were found. The students, who wish to remain anonymous for the sake of their lives, had some frightening information to share. “Every day on my way to lunch she slams me against the wall with her surprisingly strong arms and violently shakes me until I give her lunch money. The pizza isn’t even that good!”
Another said, “I’m tired of having my feet burned with a lighter. It melts my shoes and hurts my tender toes! I’m considering transferring to Sky View because of her.”
The scariest tale of all came from a tiny freshman boy, “She trips me everyday between my classes and attempts to curb stomp me. I just wish she would stop, I like how my face looks.”
These sad stories are only a glimpse of the chaos Wootton has caused. Though most of her targets have just been underclassmen so far, it won’t be long until juniors and even seniors become byproducts of her evil ways. If that happens, the whole school could be trapped under her dark and evil cloud. Academics and athletics would be hurt, and the use of Zoloft would go up dramatically.
Wootton must be stopped, if it isn’t too late already. The students of Logan High need to be treated with dignity and respect, not threats and fear. All students need to join together to stop the menace soon, before she successfully bullies us all.
A Bagger’s Take on Grocery Store Etiquette
Written by A.J. Anderson, Staff Writer
Food is one of the things we can’t live without, and the best place to get this necessity is at a local grocery store. Unfortunately, many people don’t know how to behave when they are inside a grocery store. When one works at a grocery store, it’s easy to see the lack of common sense some people have. So here are a few tips on what not to do at a grocery store. That way you don’t have to worry about an ill-tempered bagger crushing your eggs.
Tip #1: If you aren’t going to buy something, don’t pick it up. Every single day people come through a check stand and promptly say to the checker, “I don’t want this.” Well that’s just wonderful, but how about next time you don’t grab that cereal in the first place? Sometime between putting those Cheerios in the cart and making your way to the register, you changed your mind about buying the item. It truly isn’t that hard to go back to the aisle. Most people could use the extra exercise anyways, and you’ll keep the friendly workers happy.
Tip #2: Pay attention to your surroundings. At almost every grocery store there is a light above the check stand that determines if that lane is open or not. Logically, if the light is off then the check stand is closed, and if the light is on, it is open. When a check stand is closed, you DON’T go through it even if a checker is still there. They are probably going on break or getting off of work, which means they don’t want to help another customer. Also, some grocery stores have 15 items or less signs in front of the register. For all those people who failed 1st grade math, 100 items is MORE than 15. Yet still customers ignore common sense and go into that lane anyways, resulting in disgruntled employees. Also, when there is a ‘THIS BATHROOM IS CLOSED FOR CLEANING’ sign on the door, that probably means a worker is in the bathroom and doesn’t want someone to stroll in and start going. It’s awkward.
Tip #3: Put your cart in the cart coral. One of the least enjoyable tasks that baggers have to endure is going out in the heat, rain, cold, or snow to wheel old rusty carts back in the store. This task is made slightly more bearable by putting designated areas for carts to be returned to. Unfortunately, laziness usually triumphs and carts are kept right next to cars. This is a huge outrage for baggers, especially when they are in the line of sight of a customer who, despite seeing the bagger struggle to push ten carts in the snow, doesn’t return the cart. It is not that hard to push a cart back. It really isn’t. They even made wheels so that it moves easier.
Tip #4: Listen and talk clearly. When a customer goes through a check stand and tries to make somewhat awkward talk to the checker, it is the bagger’s responsibility to find out if they want paper or plastic. Quite frequently the bagger will ask repeatedly, sometimes to the point of yelling, and the question falls on deaf ears. Then, the cashier will ask quietly if plastic works for them, and the customer says yes like they hadn’t heard the question before. Yet again, baggers won’t be very thrilled. Talking is also important for communication. When customers have questions about where things are, they need to speak clearly. Saying “Where is the…” will not get your question answered. It actually makes it hard to answer because workers cannot understand what you are saying. This just makes things awkward, and yet again, workers don’t want to smile.
Tip #5: Be bag conscientious. Most of the time, you don’t need your groceries double bagged. It just wastes bags. Are you really concerned that your dozen eggs and loaf of bread is too much weight for one bag to hold. No, the bag is more than strong enough to hold this weight, but people feel the need to get two bags when they only need one. Also, if you have a $300 order, don’t get paper bags. It takes so much longer to bag things in paper, and this makes baggers unhappy. When baggers aren’t happy, the quality of bagging is likely to go down. But the best thing to do is just get some reusable bags. You won’t have to worry about them ripping, and it helps the environment, and that is a very good thing.
So those are a few tips for next time you’re at the grocery store. Just be nice and use common sense and the friendly employees won’t be faking that smile and “have a nice day.” They might actually mean it. You’ll have a much better time at the grocery store.
Health Care: The Low Down
By Katie Luecke, Staff Writer
As the first year of President Obama’s term wrapped up, one issue was still the most controversial and unclear: Healthcare. Many bills were passed and numerous speeches given on this matter, but without much progress. Even though most people think that all Americans deserve affordable healthcare, the deadlock in Congress continues to deny opportunities to affect substantial change in our nation’s healthcare programs.
Looking at the many healthcare options being considered, it’s important to understand the history of healthcare in our country. From the beginning, healthcare was not considered a natural right. Nowhere in the Constitution is healthcare mentioned, even though it’s a staple all people should be privileged to.
The beginnings of organized healthcare began in the 1930s with private insurance companies who realized that many people could not afford the costs of large medical procedures. Two of these companies became the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies of today. The need for health insurance greatly increased during the economic turmoil of the Great Depression, much like the recession of today. In the 1960s, Medicare and Medicaid were established, giving healthcare to the elderly and impoverished. Both of these programs provide a safety net for certain demographics, but now more and more people are in need of quality, affordable healthcare.
President Obama’s plan has two basic goals in mind. The first is to provide healthcare for the $47 million people with no coverage, some of which choose to have none, though a vast majority are considered non-insurable due to pre-existing conditions or other unjust factors.
The second is to develop a system to diminish spiraling increases in healthcare cost, and to reduce some of the power of the big insurance companies. These companies contribute substantially to election campaigns for congressmen, making it difficult for them to support the bill. The connection between members of congress and lobbyists for companies who make a living from the healthcare industry call into question the ethics of our current situation. The result is a healthcare program that is unfair to the millions without help. In Obama’s State of the Union, he addressed this issue and asked congressmen to vote based off of what is right and not just campaign contributions.
A major turning point in the fight for affordable healthcare was the race for Ted Kennedy’s Massachusetts’ senate seat. The traditionally blue state voted for Scott Brown, a republican. The loss of a democratic senator may make it more difficult to pass any meaningful healthcare legislation.
The Massachusetts’ senate race shows the discontent of Americans, and the need for some sort of change. Affordable healthcare is a basic right for anyone who wants it. If both parties would just work together to find a reasonable solution, millions of people wouldn’t be left to fight for themselves.
Handball – a high school sport?
By Tina Kasin, Staff Writer
The European Men’s handball championship takes place every other year. It is currently going on in Austria. Handball is not as well known in the U.S. as it is in Europe, which frustrates me. It is a fun sport to participate in, and would be an ideal high school sport. If we could bring more attention to handball, it would surely gain popularity in the state.
The rules are simple and considerably easier to understand than the rules for American football. There are two teams of seven players, and the coach usually focuses on working the ball through the whole team – contributing to the great team spirit. The main point is to get the size 3 (or 4, depending on what age group you are in) round ball in the goal. It is played on a rectangular court with a center line and goals at each end. And as the title of this sport suggests, it is played by hand.
I remember when I first tried handball as a ten year old. The coaches taught me the rules, and all I wanted to say about this game was “hands” (which makes sense if you are familiar with soccer). My position was called “line”. That is a place on the field where you have to run quickly and know how to score goals. There I was, trying to do what the position required, and although I was enthusiastic, my attempt was dismal. The referees took me out for two minutes and gave me a yellow card my very first match. I got the hang of it after a while, and I enjoyed the experience. I decided it was a fun game, although I ended up quitting so I could focus on soccer.
My handball experience was short, but fun, and I would definitely try out for Logan High’s handball team – if we had one. Maybe this is something we should consider. I am not sure if there is a handball league for high schools in Utah, but I highly doubt there is. Everything has to start somewhere, so if one school starts, maybe the next one will follow.
Handball is an entertaining sport to watch, at least if you have a favorite team you support and cheer for. A lot of things happen at once in a game, including injuries, penalties and a winner and a loser. These are some of the reasons why I like to watch handball championships.